Pakistan Floods Relief & Recovery

Project areas: Health, Rural development, Environment

Read the 2012 update on AKDN's progress in post-floods Pakistan here.

Since the devastating floods hit Pakistan in summer 2010, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has been making progress in its relief and recovery efforts. In partnership with local communities and with support from concerned global citizens like you, we have helped to re-establish water supplies, rebuild houses and provide health care for people affected by the disaster. We are moving forward on the road to rebuilding lives toward sustainable development.

As UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon described, the devastating floods engulfing one-fifth of Pakistan was a "slow tsunami."  Widespread despair gripped the 20 million people with the loss of lives, crops and livestock. Just about every physical strand that knit the country together–roads, bridges, schools, clinics, electricity, communications–were damaged in Pakistan’s worst natural calamity.

Aga Khan Planning & Building Services, Pakistan has restored water supplies in 30 of the most affected villages with another 27 more to be restored. New communal water and sanitation systems made of brick and galvanized steel ensure more sustainable access to clean water. These efforts also make the water cleaner, safer and improve health for the future.

The Foundation received a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development of $5.2 million for its Relief & Early Recovery Program, which coordinates with AKDN’s multi-agency response. The Foundation matched this grant with $1 million. In Thatta, Sindh, the recovery program has not only rebuilt over half of the homes lost to the floods but also included in the process local people who helped raise the flooring in their new temporary shelters.

Relief efforts produced a new social enterprise bringing Pakistani women into the reconstruction efforts. The Aga Khan Cultural Services and the Aga Khan Planning & Building Services collaborated with local women’s groups who took the lead in making energy-efficient roof hatch windows for the temporary shelters, proven to save energy and improve healthy living.

AKDN is providing healthcare and health facilities for the Pakistani people. Aga Khan University (AKU) offered initial emergency healthcare in Thatta, Sindh. In 50 emergency healthcare sites across the district, AKU is serving 110,000 patients, the majority of whom are women and children. In addition, Aga Khan Health Services repaired all of its health facilities and serves the entire district of Thatta, Sindh with mobile healthcare teams.

AKDN has been on the ground in Pakistan helping flood victims get their lives back on track since devastation hit last year. While progress has been made in the months since the tragic flood, you can continue to help in AKDN’s efforts to support the needs of Pakistanis to develop their lives in healthy and sustainable ways. The flood waters may have receded, but much needed work continues to be done. With your support, AKDN can continue to bring hope to millions.